Page 23 - UN Executive Briefing on Unlocking the potential of virtual worlds and the metaverse for the Sustainable Development Goals

UN Executive Briefing on Unlocking the potential of virtual worlds and
the metaverse for the Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 13: Climate Action

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

The need for urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts,
as outlined in Goal 13, is intrinsically linked to all SDGs. Virtual worlds
present an opportunity to raise awareness and focus action on tackling
climate change by harnessing the power of digital technologies. To
achieve this vision, virtual worlds first need to ensure energy efficiency
and environmental sustainability in their operations by addressing the
climate impact of their emission-intensive infrastructure [b-International
Journal of Information Management].

It is crucial to optimize the energy efficiency of related hardware and operations by adopting
sustainable practices such as using renewable energy sources and implementing energy-
efficient hardware. Similarly, it is important to ensure responsible manufacturing practices of
this hardware, including the use of environmentally friendly materials, proper recycling and
disposal of e-waste, and the adoption of circular economy principles [b-ITU11]. In addition,
more attention should be paid to the carbon emissions of training deep learning models as well
as the emissions of maintaining a compute-heavy virtual world [b-World Economic Forum2].

To support urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, virtual worlds such as
the metaverse, through its enabling technologies such as IoT, digital twin and AI, can be
leveraged for climate monitoring, modelling, and data-driven solutions. Metaverse-enabled
data analysis can provide valuable insights, enabling more accuracy for the development
of data-driven solutions to address climate challenges. Through immersive simulations and
interactive platforms, individuals can also explore the consequences of climate change, learn
about mitigation strategies, and understand the importance of sustainable practices. Lastly, by
offering virtual alternatives to physical activities such as business travel, the metaverse has the
potential to significantly reduce greenhouse emissions of the transportation sector [b-Cornell
Chronicle].
Case Study: UN VR carbon footprint experience

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has teamed up with Sony PlayStation platform
“Dreams” to create an immersive virtual reality experience about climate change. The
experience includes technological features that heighten the experience for viewers: three-
dimensional graphics and ambisonic audio that positions sound around the user. Although
VR experiences often require VR headsets, UNEP has made it possible for those without them
to still see the experience on YouTube. The video experience is also shared via Earth School,
UNEP’s collaboration with TED-Ed for students and educators [b-UNEP2].

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